The Great Commission in Perilous Times*

Let's first look at what the Great Commission of Christ is, and to whom it was given: "Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world (meaning "age")." (Mt. 28:16-20). These were the apostles of Christ who were with Him throughout the years of His ministry, witnessed the miracles, saw Him appear in the room where they were hidden after His resurrection, yet some doubted. Paul wrote Timothy regarding the special consideration needed to carry out this Great Commission of Christ in the last days, when "perilous times shall come." (2 Tim. 3:1). Paul wrote of the coming judgment of Jesus Christ at His appearing in His kingdom. With this in mind, Paul told Timothy: "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; and they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables." (2 Tim. 4:1-4). There is a judgment coming. Some wilfully ignore this fact, and others are uncaring. Our commission includes "reproving" and "rebuking" in view of Christ's return and judgment. "Feel good" sermons given while sin increases will not prepare hearts for these last days and the return of Christ. The Word of God must be preached. Who will accept reproval and rebuke? Proverbs says that it is pointless to reprove the foolish, the scorner, or a wicked man, who will reject the reproof, and return harm to you instead. However, those who are the wise, who desire to live and get understanding, will increase in learning, and will love you for bringing him the wisdom of God. Proverbs also says: "The fear (awe, respect, and worship) of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." (Prov. 9:6-10). The Great Commission creates disciples by teaching the whole counsel of God in order to equip them. The Word of God in Deut. 28 and 29 speaks of the blessings and cursings that may fall upon God's people. His people need to understand 2 Chron. 7:14: "If My people...", which calls God's people to repentance. The prophet Ezekiel is given a vision from God, and told to "declare all that thou seest to the house of Israel." (Ezek. 40:3-4). The "man", whose appearance was of brass who brought this vision to Ezekiel is very much like the description of Christ as written in Revelation. The vision given to Ezekiel was of the house of the LORD, the place of His throne and the soles of His feet, "where I dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever, and my holy name shall the house of Israel no more defile, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoredom, nor by the carcases of their kings in their high places...they have defiled my holy name by the abominations that they have committed: wherefore I have consumed them in mine anger. Now let them put away their whoredom and the carcases of their kings, far from me, and I will dwell in the midst of them for ever. Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern." (Ezek. 43:7-10). The pattern and forms of the house of the LORD include the ordinances and laws of the house. Ezekiel was to write the forms and fashion of the house in the sight of the people "that they may keep the whole form thereof, and all the ordinances thereof, and do them. This is the law of the house; Upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof round about shall be most holy. Behold, this is the law of the house." (Ezek. 43:6-12). Ezekiel was to show the people their iniquity so that may repent. Reprove, rebuke, and receive correction, and, as Paul also said: "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind." The mountain and house of the LORD will be holy, and all nations shall flow to it, according to Isaiah. God is longsuffering towards us, but He requires something from us. The LORD spoke to the prophet Isaiah, saying: "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." (Isa. 58:1).The people did not understand why the LORD was displeased with them. They fasted and repented, but the LORD still did not hear them, nor accept them. Why? Their religious fasting and repentance was an outward show, the LORD said, but did not produce an inward change. Their fasting produced strife, debate, the pointing of the finger at another, oppressing another with yokes, and even wicked harm against each other (v. 4, 9). This is written to believers! [In this nation's history, many were yoked into slavery by those who called themselves believers, and many Native Americans were killed by those who claimed to know the name of Christ.] Rather than the vain religious display, the LORD described how HE viewed a fast: "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burden, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him? and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?" (v. 6-7). Jesus also described those who will claim to have done great spiritual works in His name, but He will answer them, "Depart, I never knew you." The change that the LORD is looking for from His people will produce incredible results: light, health, righteousness, their darkness shall be as noonday, the glory of the LORD shall be their reward (v. 8-10). The Word of the LORD continued: "The LORD shall guide thee continually...and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell." (v. 11-12). Finally, if His people will keep His Sabbath holy, honoring the LORD rather than their own words and pleasure: "Then thou shalt delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob, thy father: for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it." (v. 13-14). Many Christians don't want to hear about the holiness of the Sabbath, or the keeping of the feasts of the LORD, but Jesus kept the feasts. Who is Israel, but those who are circumcised inwardly, in the heart, but God has not forgotten the heritage of His people, Jacob, as He promises, "All Israel shall be saved." Reproof and rebuke, as Paul commanded Timothy to do, are not to cruelly condemn, but to say, "I love you; Love the Lord." Proverbs says: "Open rebuke is better than secret love. Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." (Prov. 27:5-6). **Based upon the 10/28/23 message of Dr. Kenneth E. Stevenson, Jr. to the church. You can see the full message on Dr. Stevenson's Facebook page. To contact the ministry, you can write PO Box 154221, Waco, TX, 76705.